Civil War Journal – Week Eighteen

Civil War II has a dozen tie-ins this week, but only one takes every part of the war and turns it on its head – who really killed the Hulk?

Welcome back to Civil War Journal, Bam Smack Pow’s weekly recap column of all things Civil War II. In the last week of September, a couple of issues pick up on the new prophecy that Miles Morales will kill Steve Rogers, a few books finish up their involvement in this summer’s Minority Report, and a couple of books print “Civil War II” on their covers and scramble to justify your purchase with varying success.

Captain America: Steve Rogers #5

What happened? This is the big one. Steve Rogers, now rewritten as a Hydra sleeper agent, realizes that Ulysses is going to get wind of his attempt to kill the Red Skull. He tries to assassinate the Inhuman but fails when Tony Stark kidnaps the kid. So Rogers anonymously sends Bruce Banner some research, his consideration of which leads to the prophecy that gets him killed. Steve knows the woman Captain Marvel arrested in Civil War II #4 isn’t Hydra but can’t reveal how he knows. And the issue ends with Captain America seeing his own death at the hands of Miles Morales.

Was it good? Amazing. This is what a tie-in book should be, a work that moves the Captain America: Steve Rogers story forward while also challenging the reader to re-evaluate the entire event. This is the villain book Kingpin should have been.

Recommendation: Remember how last issue, I didn’t think it tied in enough to merit top-tier status? This week, it ties in enough.

Captain America: Sam Wilson #13

What happened? The only direct reference to Civil War II is when Tony Stark tells Sam that he still wants help with “what Carol is doing right now.” But the action of the book, U.S.Agent fighting Sam Wilson because he probably won’t be a good enough hero, Rage berating Sam for refusing to address the profiling that is killing the Black community, and Sam’s establishment of a constant surveillance of private law enforcement? That is all a rich exploration of the real-world themes of Civil War II, and it’s a commitment that ties this book in closer than half of the issues that make eye contact with Ulysses.

Was it good? It’s terrific. Nick Spencer is unafraid to apply critical thinking to the problems that predictive justice pose for American minorities. In a week of outlandish Presidential debate, this book is vital.

Recommendation: Oh, yes. One of the best tie-in titles of the year.

Captain Marvel #9

What happened? Captain Marvel defends that predictive justice should only apply to people with criminal records. The non-convicted get higher monitoring but aren’t jailed. At first, she supports teammate Aurora’s argument that people with mental illness are overwhelmingly harmless, but when she learns of a traitor on her team, she’s quick to blame Aurora’s dissociative alter. Alpha Flight teammates fight teammates as their sinister government leader watches with a smirk.

Was it good? Yes. The reader knows that predictive justice is a bad idea, but Captain Marvel’s splitting of hairs (people who have committed crimes are more likely to commit crimes and fit a tougher category) is the kind of self-justification that keeps useless and damaging sex offender registries alive. Carol doesn’t win, but she’s more relatable here than anywhere else this summer.

Recommendation: Oh, yes. Readers need to see this side of Captain Marvel this year.

Ms. Marvel #11

What happened? Kamala arranges a decoy crime to prove to Captain Marvel that predictive justice won’t work. This leads Carol to court-martial the over-eager leader of her junior fascists, but it splits Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel apart.

Was it good? Oh, yes. The decoy crime idea was used this week in Steve Rogers but the tones are so different that readers can enjoy them both. And it’s a major turning point for Ms. Marvel.

Recommendation: Get this. Get this now.

Civil War II: Ulysses #6

What happened? Ulysses finally breaks out of his tower only to lose a fight to Karnak, which forces him to learn to slow down and pay better attention to his visions if he’s going to be of any use to people.

Was it good? Yes. Ulysses deserves this good-natured ribbing, and he’s more interesting here than in the eighty-five other books he’ll pop up in this year.

Recommendation: Get it in digital – the animation is excellent and won’t translate to print.

New Avengers #16

What happened? The New Avengers fight the Maker’s Revengers, but before they can win, SHIELD drops in. They point out that Ulysses saw a vision of Sunspot’s funeral, and when Sunspot joins the fight, John Garrett shoots him in the head to tie up that loose end.

Was it good? It’s not adding anything to the Civil War II story, but this is a solid superhero team book.

Recommendation: Let this one slide, you’re getting so many other top-tier books this week.

Rocket Raccoon & Groot #10

What happened? The bad guy Rocket, Groot, and Gwenpool have chased sets his sights on Captain Marvel. Gwen rolls her eyes – no way is a character with her own movie going to die in a comedy tie-in book. But then she thinks maybe she’s in a Bendis book, and Bendis would totally do that. So Gwen joins the guys and saves Captain Marvel.

Was it good? This was so funny and self-aware. I don’t really want to read Gwenpool, but in the small doses of this story arc, I’ve loved her. But the only Civil War II link is that the guys are on Earth because of Marvel’s distress call in Civil War II #4.

Recommendation: You can let this slide. But you’re missing comedy gold.

Spider-Woman #11

What happened? Spider-Woman reels after her ex-boyfriend kills her friend because her best friend trusted the wrong predictions. The book acknowledges that enough tie-in books have characters busting into the Triskelion to interview Hawkeye and moves him to Alpha Flight’s satellite. Jessica breaks in there but realizes she’s not interested in Clint; she wants a fight with Carol, and she gets one. Captain Marvel wants to talk, but Spider-Woman declares their friendship over.

Was it good? Very much. The friendship between these women has been amazing for over twenty years, and this feels like an earned change to the status quo.

Recommendation: It’s not adding enough to Civil War II, but it’s adding everything to Spider-Woman. It’s not making top tier, but keep it in mind.

Thunderbolts #5

What happened? Winter Soldier gets wind of the prophecy that Miles Morales will kill his best friend, Steve, so he ditches the Thunderbolts to hunt the little Spider. But he pulls his punches and gets arrested by SHIELD, and Miles gets away.

Was it good? It was fine, if a little light.

Recommendation: It’s not like he caught Spider-Man. Skip it.

The Ultimates #11

What happened? The Ultimates work as a team to defeat Thanos once he escapes their prison. Carol hopes they have recovered from differences of opinion about her methods, but it may remain a problem the team can’t solve.

Was it good? It’s pretty rushed for a fight against a cosmic-level villain, but it gets the point of the crossover across well.

Recommendation: It’s good, but this week is full of titles I want you to buy, and I’d let this one hang out in the pull box for a while.

Totally Awesome Hulk #10

What happened? Now that Amadeus has convinced SHIELD he’s got it together, he sneaks out to kill Hawkeye and avenge Bruce Banner. Black Panther predicts this and sets a trap, fighting the Totally Awesome Hulk to a standstill.

Was it good? It’s a good fight scene, and Amadeus needed to blow off more steam after losing his mentor, but I’m not sure why it’s the Panther.

Recommendation: It’s fine. Hulk fans should get it, but you can enjoy Civil War II without it.

Civil War II: Kingpin #3

What happened? Kingpin wants to find the Inhuman Janus and is willing to kill lots of people to do so. Punisher wants to kill Kingpin and is willing to kill lots of people to do so. They try to kill each other, but before they can, SHIELD arrests Kingpin.

Was it good? It’s awful. Kingpin’s dialogue is clever and arch, but the plot is a gross slog through ridiculous violence. Punisher drives a ten-inch knife into Kingpin’s chest, and Kingpin leaves it in so he can crucify Punisher on a set of antlers over the fireplace. This was a miserable experience.

Recommendation: Please don’t. Please, please don’t.

Books like Kingpin continue to be let-downs while others like New Avengers keep having a tough time justifying their involvement with the crossover, but most of the books this week were based heavily on the main event, and the Steve Rogers reveal was a pleasant game-changer.

Tie-In Round-Up:

Recommended: The main series, of course, with preludes from the zero issue and the Free Comic Book Day pages. Also The Accused, All-New Wolverine, Captain America: Sam Wilson, Captain America: Steve Rogers, Captain Marvel, Civil War II: Ulysses, Guardians Of The Galaxy, Ms. Marvel, and Uncanny Inhumans.

Good but not top tier: A-Force, All-New All-Different Avengers, Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man, Civil War II: Choosing Sides (but only the Damage Control story and the Whitley/Sauvage eulogy for War Machine), Civil War II: Gods Of War, Civil War II: X-Men, Deadpool until issue 15, The Fallen, International Iron Man, Invincible Iron Man, Mockingbird, Nova, New Avengers, Patsy Walker AKA: Hellcat, Power Man And Iron Fist, Rocket Raccoon And Groot, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Woman, Squadron Supreme, Totally Awesome Hulk, The Ultimates, Thunderbolts, Uncanny Avengers, Venom

Not good: Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., the bulk of Civil War II: Choosing Sides, Civil War II: Kingpin, Deadpool after issue 15

Keep up with the Civil War Journal by following this link!